Crutch



L. KISTLER.

CRUTCH. r APPLICATION E|LEDxuN"5,191s.

1,329,775. v Patented Feb. 3,1920.

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l/V VEN TOR l er l. 1' Y LEO KSTLER, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

GRTCH.

Lezama.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

Application tiled .Tune 5, 1819. Serial No. 362,067.

T0 @ZZ 'who/u it may concern.'

ile it known that l, lino Kis'rnnn, a citir/zen of Germany, residing at No. 1&7 E. 30th st eet, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful lm proveniente in @rute-hes, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in implements for supporting persons lame in their lower limbs and assisting their locomotion, known generally as crutches.

rEhe principal. object of the invention is to provide a crutch in which the head or arm rest is engaged with the staff in such manner es to be limitedly movable relative thereto, cushioning elements being interposed at the joints therebetween to soften the effect of the constantly alternating pressure and relaxation of the crutch parts when walking.

A further object is to provide a relatively inexpensive structure, which can be used safely, conveniently, and comfortably, it being of adequate strength and of pleasing appearance.

These and other like objects are attained by the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing, forming' a material part of this disclosure7 and in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a crutch made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the upper portion of the crutch, drawn to an enlarged scale7 and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fis. 2.

The head or arm rest of a crutch is most important; if of proper form, length, width and curvature, and highly polished, all friction against the clothing is avoided, pre venting wear and tear of the same, and the annoyance caused by undergarments, adjacent to the 'arm pits, heating and chaf'mg, thereby eliminating much discomfort.

The arm piece acting independently of the crutch uprights or staffs, adjusts itself to a considerable degree to the various positions of the crutch necessary in assisting the body when walking. When the crutch point is moved forward, the springs receive the weight and yield as the body is carried forward, providing a cushion effect without causing the curved surface of the arm piece to change its form when supporting the body. i

A crutch to be comfortable should not be too rigid, but so constructed that it rwill spring or yield to the.various'positions of the body made necessary when walking, and the improved construction hereinafter described permits the crutch parts to adapt themselves fully to the ,swaying of the users body.

Referring to the drawings, a pair of staffs or side members 10, have converging lower elements 11, connected by a band 12, and extend down to a ferrule 1/1, engaging a resilient terminal or foot 15, preferably of rubber, adapted to make contact with the surface in such manner as to partially cushion the crutch and prevent slipping.

These staffs are firmly united by a hand piece 16, at a point midway in their length, its exact location relative to the poi-nts of support being determined by the length of the arm of the user.

The main portions 10 and 11 of the staffs may be oval or of any other preferred cross-section, but the arm portions 18 are preferably rectangular for several inches, and have secured between. them a rigid crossbar 19.

The head 2O is formed with a concave upper surface conforming to the armpit and is highly finished to provide a smooth surface contactable with the garments or, if preferred, a cushion may be secured to the head.

The lower surface of the head is arcuaately formed and rests upon a metallic strap E21, having extended T-shaped ends 22, suited to be received and moved freely in longitudin-al recesses 23 formed in the inner portions of the staff elements 18, while the necks 24 are free to move in the slots Q5, leading to the recesses, which are provided with covers 9,6 at their upper ends, this construction being such as to allow the head to move freely with respect to the staff sides.

A pair of semi-elliptic compression springs 28, suited to the weight of the user, are interposed and secured by fastening means 29, between the bottom of the metal strap 21, and the top of the cross-bar 19. These springs provide a desirable cushion effect and also permit a swaying motion, while the staffs are limitedly resilient in a lateral direction, thus permitting a rocking movement to take place without relaxation or loosening of the parts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a neat appearing and smoothly operating,r crutch has been disclosed that can be used with entire safety and comfort.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A crutch comprising a pair of support staffs, having recesses at their upper ends, a cross-bar fixed between said stads below the mentioned recesses, a head, a metallic strap on which said head is secured, the ends of said strap being engaged in the mentioned recesses, and springs interposed between said strap and'said cross-bar adapted to support said head.

2. A crutch comprising a pair of spaced support stads, a handle rigidly engaged therebetween midway in their length, said stads being secured together at their lower ends and having shaped recesses in their upper ends, a head having its ends engaged in said recesses, a bar i'iXed between said sta-iis, and compression springs fixed on said bar and said head respectively.

3. A crutch comprised of a. pair of support stads spaced and longitudinally recessed at their upper ends, a head, an arcuately bent strap secured to the lower side of said head, means for securing the ends of said strap within the recesses in the inner sides oi said staffs, said securing means permitting a limited movement of the ends ot' said strap in the recess, a bar secured trans versely between said staffs, and compression springs extending between said strap and said bar.

LEO KISTLER. 

